The 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe Just Took Home a Top Safety Award

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest car to win the coveted Top Safety Pick award. This stylish sedan is the perfect choice for someone who doesn’t need a ton of space, but wants to drive a safe luxury car. Let’s look at why the IIHS awarded the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe one of its highest safety award.

2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe | BMW

What is an IIHS Top Safety Award?

To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, a car must score a good rating in all IIHS crash test ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. Additionally, the vehicle must get a good score in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

A Top Safety Pick winner must also have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights must have a good or acceptable rating available. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not, so it’s important to check the test results of the trim level you’re considering purchasing. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award, the headlights on all trim levels must be good or acceptable.

How are the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe’s crash-test ratings?

The BMW Gran Coupe has very good crash-test ratings. It got a good score in all of its small overlap front: driver and passenger side tests. The only weakness in these tests is in a small overlap front: passenger side test subcategory. The structure and safety cage only gets an acceptable rating. 

The moderate overlap front crash test ratings are also good, including all of its subcategories. 

The side crash-test ratings are also all good, including most of the subcategories. The only exception to this is under the driver injury measures. The torso has only an acceptable rating. 

How is the roof strength, head restraints, and seats?

The roof strength in the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is good. It has a curb weight of 3,476 pounds and a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.18, which is good. 

The head restraints and seats all got a good rating, including for the overall evaluation, dynamic rating, and seat/head restraint geometry. 

As an added bonus the front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle is superior. The front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian safety system is advanced. 

There are a whole range of headlight options available for the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe. These range from poor to acceptable. Since headlights are so important, you’ll want to check and see which headlights the vehicle you’re looking at will come with. 

Overall, the 2021 BMW Gran Coupe is a great car. It may not be perfect, but it’s safe enough to get an IIHS Top Safety award. Just make sure you pay attention to the headlights. 

RELATED: The BMW Feature Fit for Star Trek

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Post Malone Took His 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan on a NASCAR Track in His New Music Video

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Post Malone might not be everyone’s taste in music, but his 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan proves he has good taste in cars. In his newest music video, Motley Crew, Malone took the black and yellow Cullinan out on the track for some action. What other cars does Malone have in his garage, besides this one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce?

Post Malone and his custom 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan

Post Malone took his 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan on the track | Martyn Lucy/Getty Images

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan starts at around $330,000. There’s no doubt that Malone’s Cullinan probably cost a little more than that, especially after the wrap job. This one also happens to be the Black Badge trim, which adds quite a bit more to the price tag. Rolls-Royce says that the Cullinan Black Badge “is for those who reject conformity and live on their own terms. It’s for the innovators, trailblazers, rule-breakers — and above all — those who dare.” Sounds about right.

Malone wrapped the Cullinan in a black and yellow Nascar-style custom livery and headed to the track to have some fun. The Cullinan is all the rage these days with rappers, Kardashians, basketball players, and everyone in between that can afford it. It’s technically an SUV with tons of room, a twin-turbo V12 engine, and gets its name from the largest diamond ever found. Appropriate, isn’t it?

The 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan is anything but average

In the video, the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan has the number 77 on the side. Malone’s sponsors for the Cullinan appear to be Bud Light, Raising Cane’s chicken tenders, and Maison No. 9 rosé, which is his own brand. The interior of the Cullinan matches the outside, with black and yellow seats. Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe is also driving on the track in a 1966 Pontiac GTO convertible wrapped in a similar livery.

Malone and his Cullinan raced around the Auto Club Speedway in California with a few other NASCAR looking vehicles. NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace are partying with the group. There’s a bunch of other random people and cars in the video, but the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan steals the show. This is Malone’s personal car and the interior is always bright yellow, which seems appropriate for his personalilty.

What other supercars does Posty have in his garage?

Sir Post Malone is a big fan of cars, and not just his decked-out Cullinan. According to DMARGE, Malone has a healthy variety of vehicles in his garage. He has a white white Bugatti Chiron, a white Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster, and a Subaru WRX. Everyone needa a WRX, even Post Malone. He also has a white Ford GT, which might be the coolest car out of the bunch.

But the inventory doesn’t end there. He has a huge white Hennessey VelociRaptor 6×6, a Lincoln Continental, a Chevrolet C-10, and a 1992 Ford Explorer with butterfly doors. All white. Are we sensing a theme here? Is the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan the only black car that he owns? It very well could be.

So as you can see, Malone is a big fan of cars in all shapes and sizes. But mostly in the color white. The Rolls-Royce Cullinan might be the newest addition to the group, but it certainly won’t be the last.

RELATED: Florida Man: Elon Musk Is Building a Tesla Tunnel Taxi Service?

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Here’s What Tesla’s Newly Released Full Self-Driving Beta V9 Is Like

by Gabrielle DeSantis

We’ve been waiting for Tesla to release its Full Self-Driving beta program since forever. Maybe not really, actually forever, but it sure feels like it’s been a really long time. So what is Tesla’s full self-driving beta v9, and are Tesla owners happy with it?

The interior of a Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

What is Tesla’s new software like?

Finally, on July 9, 2021, Tesla began updating their software. The software update, Tesla FSD Beta v9, is an update for Tesla’s self-driving package. Tesla customers have to have already paid for FSD, at a cost beginning at about $8,000. For a package that may never have arrived, Tesla owners who purchased FSD are probably pretty relieved right now. 

Tesla FSD Beta v9 package will work in conjunction with Tesla Vision. Tesla vision is Tesla’s way of ‘seeing’ the road and its surroundings. Many vehicles are equipped with sensors that allow it to measure things like the distance between themselves and cars around them, or the painted lines on a highway. However, Tesla Vision only uses cameras to do these things. It’s a new technology and the FSD v9 will work with it. 

What did Tesla release with the Full Self-Driving Beta v9?

As usual, Tesla is pretty quiet on the details of its plans. Even after Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Beta v9was released, Tesla hasn’t shared a lot of details. 

Tesla did share a few things, including that the Teslas with the updates will have the ability to see around them better. This information will be shown on the in-car display. Additionally, interior cameras will be able to track things like whether the driver is paying attention. Tesla says that these images won’t be shared, provided you don’t enable sharing.

Tesla did give warnings about the FSD Beta 9

Tesla reminded people of the rules of the Autopilot feature that goes hand-in-hand with Tesla Full Self-Driving; namely, that it’s not autonomous. In the past, people have abused the Tesla Autopilot feature, sometimes with serious consequences. 

According to Gizmodo, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is even more than cautious. On Twitter, his vehicle of communication of choice, Musk tweeted, “Running preproduction software is both work & fun. Beta list was in stasis, as we had many known issues to fix. Beta 9 addresses most known issues, but there will be unknown issues, so please be paranoid. Safety is always top priority at Tesla.”

It’s clear that Tesla is concerned that people may become overly reliant on the FSD update. California is investigating Tesla for falsely advertising just how autonomous their Autopilot function is. 

Even with Full Self-Driving, Tesla operators must keep their hands on the steering wheel and retain control of their vehicle. The Tesla Full Self-Driving function is only a level-2 driving program, which means that they are still pretty far from autonomous. 

Overall, it’s exciting that Tesla has released an FSD update. Hopefully, the beta testing amongst the 2,000 drivers who now have the update (mostly Tesla employees) will go well. If this software update is successful, it could mean exciting things for autonomous vehicles in the future. 
RELATED: Tesla’s Table Salt Patent Could Be a Game Changer

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When Can You Pre-Order and Drive the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Initially teased as a 2021 model, the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq has been a long time coming. You might have also seen it in Will Ferrell’s Super Bowl commercial, where it boasted General Motors’ patented ultium battery. It’s Cadillac’s first electric offering, set to compete with the Tesla Model X and Audi e-tron.

Though you can’t pre-order the 2023 Lyriq yet, Cadillac invites you to sign up for the latest email updates. The luxury automaker also showcases many of the Lyriq’s standard features but offers little insight into pricing. What does this electric crossover offer, and how much will it cost?

Inside the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq

2023 Cadillac Lyriq | General Motors

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq will be one of the first vehicles to use GM’s ultium battery. It’s the same nickel manganese cobalt chemistry battery present in most EVs, only this one features extra aluminum. It’s also made with flat pouch-style cells that can cool the battery more efficiently.

With more nickel and less cobalt, the batteries are also less expensive to sell and produce. Cadillac claims the Lyriq’s ultium battery is rated at 100 kWh, capable of 340 hp. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional, with the latter adding a second electric motor on the front axle. 

As for range, Cadillac says its electric crossover will get over 300 miles on a fully charged battery. Cadillac will also include a reportedly segment-leading home charger that restores 52 miles of range each hour. At a DC fast-charging station, it needs 10 minutes to restore 76 miles of range.

The Cadillac Lyriq also comes equipped with Regen on Demand technology, an optimized form of one-pedal driving. Using steering wheel-mounted paddles, drivers can get the best performance and efficiency from the vehicle simultaneously. The EV will ride on 20- or 22-inch wheels, and the drive should be whisper-quiet with next-gen Active Noise Cancellation.

The Cadillac Lyriq’s exterior design features a wide grille complemented by narrow lights, plus a hatch-like roofline. These LED headlights also reportedly showcase a choreographed lighting sequence and are the first vertical lamps in the modern automotive industry. The luxurious interior has a minimalist design, though the 33-inch curved LED display certainly veers toward extravagant.

Cadillac says higher trims will have Super Cruise technology, allowing drivers to go hands-free during highway driving. Top-tier trims will also probably include a high-quality speaker system from AKG. Many standard convenience features, like Wi-Fi and smartphone integration, are also a given.

How much will a new Cadillac Lyriq cost?

According to Cadillac’s press release, buyers can start placing pre-orders for the 2023 Lyriq in September. Customers should get their cars in the first quarter of 2022. We know the actual cost of only the base trim so far, which starts at $59,995.

This aligns with speculation from Car and Driver that the special ultium batteries would likely prompt a price hike. As for the higher trims, C/D estimates the Premium Luxury will retail for around $70,000. The Cadillac Lyriq Sport might start at $80,000, and the range-topping Platinum model will probably cost around $90,000 or more.

The future of GM’s EVs

The GMC Hummer EV will also get the ultium battery, generating 625 hp and over 300 miles of range. It won’t go on sale for a few more years, but it will come with a plethora of off-roading equipment. Pricing for the Hummer EV ranges from $79,995 to $105,595.

Cadillac will also release its flagship hatchback, the Celestiq, soon. And all-electric versions of the GMC Sierra and Cadillac Escalade should debut for the 2023 model year.

RELATED: The Design of the 2021 Cadillac Lyriq Is Unlike Anything Before It

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